A tropical country with distinct dry and wet seasons, subject to two monsoon season. The South West Monsoon is active during May to August in the southern part, western coastal areas and the hill country. From October to January the North East Monsoon brings rain to the northern and eastern regions. Meaning that travelling year round in some part of the country is possible. However, there is no guarantee against showers which occurs at no particular time.

In the coastal regions and the low country temperatures vary between 220C and 300C with Colombo averaging 270C. As one ascends the heights of the hill country there is an appreciable drop in mercury. Kandy at an altitude of 450 mts averages 200C and Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s main hill station at 1890 mts averages 160C but can plunge below a chilly 1000. Temperatures are highest about two hours after noon and coolest just before dawn.

Generally speaking the highest temperatures are between March and June though the mercury seldom soars above 3500. November to January are the coolest months and the sea is a uniform 2700 year round.

The average annual rainfall of 2000 mm is double of the world's average but there are some wide variation with the south west region receiving much heavier rainfall and thus described as the Wet Zone than the north and the east which is termed as the Dry Zone. Humidity is high ranging from 90% to 70% in the Wet Zone and 60% in the Dry Zone.